Wireless Services

1
Wireless Services

• TC 310
• June 2,2007

2
Why Regulate

• License Legacy
• Substituting Wireline
• Regulatory Parity
• Network Effects
• Interconnection
• Standards
• Causes Cancer

3
Making Wireless Work

• Last Mile Technology (generally)?
• Central broadcast (radio) v. Cellular
• Interference
• Power/Battery Life
• Efficient reuse of frequencies
• Infrastructure investments
• Big costs. Fighting locals
• Upgrading tech, manage users

4
Categorizing Wireless

• Private Services (dispatch)?
• For own communication needs
• Consumer Services
• General communication, common carriage
• Types of Licenses
• Cellular
• Personal Communications Service
• Specialized Mobile Radio

5
Early Regulation

• Limited Spectrum Allocation
• Competition through false duopoly
• ILEC gets a license
• Independent gets a license
• More competition with PCS and SMR
• All digital networks
• No duopolies
• Regulatory, near technological parity

6
Deregulating Wireless

• Technically a Common Carrier
• BUT forbearance keeps deregulated
• No tariffing, equal rates, entry requirements
• Allows for sweet deals like
• Bundling
• Sign a contract, get a phone
• Bulk Minutes
• Big business gets a break on minutes

7
States and Wireless

• States are generally preempted (Congress)?
• Still have some power
• Terms and conditions
• Makes up intrastate communications, imposition
  a universal service initiative
• Petition FCC for authority to regulate rates ONLY
  if market fails consumers
• State Courts have power in these areas
• Reason why states upset about Verizon proposal

8
Interoperability

• Network effects
• Interconnection
• Standards
• Interconnection with wireline
• Rates controversy
• Transmission only

9
Cell Only Interconnection

• Allowed to use network
• Roaming Agreements
• Device Compatiblity
• Analog (good until Feb. this year)?
• Digital
• Time Splitting (GSM, TDMA)?
• Code (CDMA)?
• Multiple Standards, one phone

10
Cell to Wireline

• Normally connect only to ILEC, transport
• Compensation for final switch use
• Actual Substitution, should reduce regulation
• Portability
• Port between cells
• Port between media
• E-911
• Basic vs. better. Society wins

11
Why Just Phones?

• Wireless Internet not really a market yet
• Just an extension of service
• Wireless only Internet?
• Phone service traditionally regulated
• Wireless Different
• VoIP Different